Technical Abstract:
This study was designed to determine if prenatal transportation influences the acute phase response (APR) to a postnatal Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge. Pregnant Brahman cows (n=96) matched by age and parity were separated into transported (TRANS; n=48; transported for 2 hours on gestational day 60, 80, 100, 120 and 140) and non-transported control groups (CONT; n=48). From these cows, bull calves (n=16 per treatment) were identified at weaning (176 +/- 2 d of age) to subsequently receive a LPS challenge. We previously reported an effect of TRANS on temperament (TEMP); therefore bulls were also grouped based on TEMP score [Calm (C); Intermediate (I), or temperamental (T)]. On day -3, bulls were fitted with rectal temperature (RT) probes and were transported from Overton, TX, to Lubbock, TX, on day -2. On day -1, bulls were fitted with jugular cannulas and placed in individual stanchions. On day 0, blood samples and sickness behavior scores (SBS) were collected at 0.5-hour intervals from -2 to 8 hours and again at 24 hours relative to LPS challenge (0.5 microgram/kg body weight). Serum was analyzed for cortisol, interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), and interleukin-6 (IL6) concentrations. All variables increased following LPS (P<0.01). Both pre- and post-LPS TRANS bulls had greater RT than CONT bulls (P<0.01), and T bulls had greater RT than C and I bulls (P<0.01). The SBS was greatest in the C TRANS bulls post-LPS and post-LPS cortisol was lowest in the T bulls (P<0.01). Pre- and post-LPS TNF-alpha was greater in TRANS than CONT bulls (P=0.03 and <0.01). Post-LPS TNF-alpha was greatest in the T TRANS bulls (P<0.01). Pre-LPS IL6 was greater in TRANS than CONT bulls (P=0.02), yet was greater in CONT than TRANS bulls post-LPS (P=0.04). Pre-LPS, IFN-gamma was greater in CONT than TRANS bulls (P<0.01), yet was greater in TRANS than CONT bulls (P<0.01) post-LPS. Post-LPS IFN-gamma was greatest in the I TRANS bulls (P<0.01). Prenatal transportation influenced the physiological and APR before and after LPS, and altered the response within temperament groups. These data demonstrate that prenatal transportation can alter the acute phase response to LPS, and may affect subsequent health and performance of these calves.